What new features did the Albatros C.X have for high-altitude flight?

The C.X was essentially an enlarged development of the Albatros C.VII, designed to take advantage of the new Mercedes D.IVa engine that became available in 1917. The most distinctive feature of the aircraft was precisely the adoption of that Mercedes D.IVa, a relatively powerful engine for the time, capable of producing up to 260 hp. Its predecessor, the C.VII, had been regarded largely as a stopgap measure while the company designed a higher-performance successor.

The new wing design aimed, together with that engine, to reach the greatest possible altitude. The aircraft's extra volume allowed new installations and equipment to be fitted, such as an oxygen-breathing apparatus in the front cockpit. The rear cockpit, the observer's, was fitted with a full radio set. The fuselage, as in previous Albatros C-series aircraft, was mainly plywood with flat-sided construction.

The C.X entered service with the Luftstreitkräfte during 1917 and was mainly used for aerial reconnaissance and artillery observation. By October 1917 it was believed there were around 300 aircraft in service.